Space Saver Wheel - Is my paranoia justified?

[DV52]

I always wondered why people were so scared of space savers and then half the time they fit the cheapest tyres they can find to their wheels.

They are made for only about 50kms of usage............

RubAVeeDubDub: You make some very good points - thanks. Whilst this thread has the teaser "Is my paranoia justified", my real reason for starting it was so that I could get first and second information about these tires. I've learn't much from the replies (thanks again to those that have posted replies), but I'm still stuck on the question of the front wheel limitation.

It's a deal-breaker for me because, if true, there is a 50% chance that the driver of my car will need to change multiple tires if a flat occurs. Yes, this probability needs to be multiplied by the chance of a flat occuring in the first place. However, without the resource of road assist, I'm not entirely sure that some of the drivers of my car can manage this (safely).


I find it difficult to believe that the good Burghers at VW would equip a car as good as a Golf mk7 with such a limitation. But if these limitation are ideed true, I want to make the decision to keep,or not to keep the space saver based on information, rather than based on my current dubious understanding of the topic (which I agree is just uninformed bias).

[adhock]

@ Mountainman: Not the case in the new wagons re plastic bits. Just a dirty great hole under the floor with skinny tyre at the bottom. Height is the only issue, and it looks to be deep enough to me. Just wish I'd been fast enough to suggest to dealer that he swap the full size 16" rim from the Mk6 wagon I traded (only a month's running on the tyre) for the new space saver as part of the changeover.

But one other thing - the Mk7 doesn't get the false flow / hidden compartment the mk6 had, even in highline form. Nuisance.

[brad]

B (about only using a space saver on the front wheel) in the manual,
Is your contention that "space saver should only be fitted to the rear" a preference, or is it a limitation?

Nothing about it in the Skoda manual either. I do recall it being in the manual for the 1998 Golf Cabrio I had. Maybe the "rules"have changed or maybe the Cabrio space saver was so ridiculously small. It was 80mm narrower than the tyres I had fitted but more importantly was significantly smaller in diameter.

Your call which end you put it on

They are made for only about 50kms of usage.

That's my daily 1-way commute.

Agree though - how many punctures do you get?

[Diesel_vert]

I've tried to find the limitation that you mentioned in your post (about only using a space saver on the front wheel) in the manual, but alas my efforts have been unsuccessful.

I have been able to find the "warning" section for using the space saver wheel which I have copied below (it's from page 320). As you will read, whilst much of what is said has already been included in others reply to this thread, there is no mention of the front wheel limitation.

Attachment 8001

I refer you to point number 4:

Never drive further than 200 km with a temporary spare if it is fitted to the drive axle.

Your particular Golf has a front wheel drive configuration, so any temporary spare (T-type or standard) should be fitted on the rear axle.

This is to ensure the vehicle's drivetrain isn't damaged from differences, even small ones, in the tyre's rolling circumference.

It is also another reason why the 80 km/h (50 mph) speed limit exists.

It's a deal-breaker for me because, if true, there is a 50% chance that the driver of my car will need to change multiple tires if a flat occurs.

The driver will need to perform no more than two tyre changes if the flat or damaged tyre happens to be on the driven axle (think about it).

If the driver is capable of changing a flat tyre once, they can do it twice.

Space savers... are made for only about 50kms of usage.

That's not entirely accurate.

Like any standard tyre, the distance one can travel with a T-type temporary tyre is only limited by its tread depth.

However, compared to standard tyres, T-type temporary tyres may have a softer tread compound and often have reduced tread depth from new, so expect a nominal tread life of 3000 km - but again, like any tyre, treadwear depends on many variables.

On the other hand, runflat tyres that have been completely deflated are limited to a distance of 80 km (50 miles) at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Runflat tyres are not fitted as standard on any production Golf.

Looked in the back of a Mk 7 wagon (which with some trepidation we bought 20 minutes later). Looks to be enough height to drop a full size spare in without lifting the load area floor. VW quoted nearly $1000 for an alloy rim and tire, or about $250 for steel rim and cheap tire.

If your vehicle is fitted with 7.0 J x 17 ET 49 wheels on 225/45 R17 tyres (which it is, since it's a Highline) then you'll need the exact same wheel and tyre assembly if you prefer not to be limited to 80 km/h while driving on the spare.

Just wish I'd been fast enough to suggest to dealer that he swap the full size 16" rim from the Mk6 wagon I traded (only a month's running on the tyre) for the new space saver as part of the changeover.

You'd still have been limited to 80 km/h, because the wheel and tyre assembly is not the same size as those fitted on your vehicle's axle.

[DV52]

I refer you to point number 4:



Your particular Golf has a front wheel drive configuration, so any temporary spare (T-type or standard) should be fitted on the rear axle.

This is to ensure the vehicle's drivetrain isn't damaged from differences, even small ones, in the tyre's rolling circumference.

It is also another reason why the 80 km/h (50 mph) speed limit exists.
.

f

Diesel_vert: thanks for the clarification. But my point (admittadly not made with sufficient clarity) is that the manual doesn't prohibit use of the spare on the front tire. It only says that you ought travel a distance of no more than 200 kms (as you have correctly emphasised). My concern was that there was a sleeper clause in the manual somewhere that placed more debilitating restrictions on front tire use. If point four is the only restriction then within a 200 km range, the only need for two tire change should be if snow chains are fitted on the front (I think).

I'm also comforted by Brad's latest post - thanks to you both

[adhock]

If your vehicle is fitted with 7.0 J x 17 ET 49 wheels on 225/45 R17 tyres (which it is, since it's a Highline) then you'll need the exact same wheel and tyre assembly if you prefer not to be limited to 80 km/h while driving on the spare.

Thanks. Point understood, even tho rolling radius should be the same. However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta), I'd really rather have a full size spare wheel that could get me further than Caiguna roadhouse, which isn't the centre of the universe despite what their bumper stickers say. Put otherwise, I shudder to think of the price of a 225/45 x 17 Pirelli in Mundrabilla or Billabong roadhouse, should they even have one.

[Diesel_vert]

thanks for the clarification. But my point (admittadly not made with sufficient clarity) is that the manual doesn't prohibit use of the spare on the front tire. It only says that you ought travel a distance of no more than 200 kms (as you have correctly emphasised).

That is how I understand it, yes.

My concern was that there was a sleeper clause in the manual somewhere that placed more debilitating restrictions on front tire use.

It doesn't state the reason, but it's mostly to do with protecting the vehicle's drivetrain and/or differential.

Again, this has nothing to do with any limitations of a T-type temporary tyre. The same rationale would apply if you were to fit a non-matching standard tyre.

If point four is the only restriction then within a 200 km range, the only need for two tire change should be if snow chains are fitted on the front (I think).

In case the front tyre needs to be replaced with a temporary spare (T-type or standard) on a FWD vehicle:

Unmount the rear tyre first and mount the temporary spare in its place (first tyre change).

Unmount the busted front tyre and mount with the rear tyre that was just taken off (second tyre change).

Thanks. Point understood, even tho rolling radius should be the same.

The difference in rolling circumference figures may be relatively small (apart from the T 125/70 R16 tyre), but are enough to have significant effects on the drivetrain in the long term.

Standard tyres:

195/65 R15 91H - 1937 mm
205/55 R16 91V - 1928 mm
225/45 R17 91W - 1934 mm
225/40 R18 92Y - 1943 mm
225/35 R19 88Y - 1955 mm

T-type temporary tyres:

T 125/70 R16 96M - 1787 mm
T 125/70 R18 99M - 1943 mm

However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta), I'd really rather have a full size spare wheel that could get me further than Caiguna roadhouse, which isn't the centre of the universe despite what their bumper stickers say.

As you are probably already aware, travelling in remote areas takes a bit of thought and preparation. In such circumstances, carrying a matching spare wheel and tyre would be considered essential (amongst other items).

If I could help it, I too would not attempt to cover vast distances in remote areas without a matching spare wheel and tyre assembly.

I shudder to think of the price of a 225/45 x 17 Pirelli in Mundrabilla or Billabong roadhouse, should they even have one.

The tyre itself need not be of the same make, model, tread pattern, load index or speed symbol - only that it be of the same size (225/45 R17), be of the same construction type (radial), not have a lesser load index than the what has been approved for the size (91) and have a speed symbol of at least S (180 km/h).

[wai]

...However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta)...

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

[Mountainman]

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

You don't have to go too far out of the capital cities to find yourself isolated from any real car service at all. I travel west from Toowoomba often and on Sundays everything is closed down. Millmerran to Goondiwindi is 140km of nothing and outside working hours there will be no service to replace tyres. Continuing down the Newell H'way is much the same. I also use the Golf for interstate trips and after having crossed the Nullarbor a couple of times in my Forester as well as up the west coast to Shark Bay I really could not get myself to do it in the Golf without the security of knowing I had a standard replacement wheel and tyre with me. When leaving the Overlander Roadhouse way north of Geraldton I came across a poor guy in a new Alfa coupe with the spare spacesaver on limping slowly south and that made me determined to never end up in the same predicament. He had 300km to go to Geraldton where there was the first chance to replace the damaged tyre and had already done 150km. I hope he made it.

[brad]

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

I would. I can't think of a better vehicle to cross The Nullabor with than my Octavia. It's a paved road all the way, the vehicle is comfortable, has excellant ground clearance, decent long travel suspension, cruise beautifully at 120kmh & gets <7L/100km & about 900km between fills.

There are plenty of other vehicles with RFTs & space savers that would do the job comfortably as well - better than some fuel gobbling SUV like my wife's Captiva which surprise, surprise has a spacesaver. I certainly wouldn't want to do the trip in a proper 4WD unless I intended going offroad.